One month to go!!! If you’ve been preparing for Christmas a little bit at a time all year it won’t seem so overwhelming — just 5 things a month! But even if you haven’t done anything until now you can still have a relaxing Christmas holiday season. Start here. And scroll down to see our list of 5 things to do every month.
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5 Things to do in November to get Ready for Christmas
ONE: Finish All DIY Gifts
I start planning handmade gifts in July or earlier! But if I don’t have them done by December 1 I set them aside. There is way too much going on after that and I’d rather spend my time with friends and family than stressing myself out by trying to finish projects. I can raid my stash of gifts that I bought and stored through the year or give a gift card.
It may be too late to start a few large projects like sewing, knitting, or crochet but here are some ideas for easy DIY gifts that don’t take much time.
TWO: Bake
I’ve already got four dozen cookies in my freezer. Baking them now saves me a lot of time when I get ready to put together our Christmas cookie plates for neighbors and coworkers. If you don’t want to freeze baked cookies you can at least get them mixed up and freeze the dough.
Here are a few recipes and tips that will help you get started.
- How to Freeze Baked Cookies
- How to Freeze Cookie Dough
- King’s Cringles – Cookie Recipe
- 3 Last Minute Easy Cookie Recipes
- Spritz Cookie Recipe
THREE: Address Christmas Cards & Take Family Photo
If you haven’t already, take a family photo when everyone is together at Thanksgiving. You’ll have plenty of time to make prints or put together a photo card on Shutterfly or Tiny Prints if you didn’t buy Christmas cards on clearance last year.
FOUR: Set Up a Wrapping Station
Hopefully, you hit the clearance sales after last Christmas so you won’t need to purchase much. Pull out your supplies and keep them together in an easy to reach area. Make a list of wrapping supplies to purchase.
- Repurposed Stool Wrapping Station
- Organizing a Wrapping Station
- Temporary Gift Wrapping Station
FIVE: Decorate
I will leave this up to you whether to decorate before or after Thanksgiving. There are at least three viewpoints.
- No Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving.
- Christmas starts on November 1.
- Decorate everything but the tree, saving the tree for everyone to decorate on Thanksgiving weekend.
I’ve always been very strict about not decorating before. But last year we decorated the second week of November because our daughter was moving out of the country. We wanted to be able to decorate the tree with our grandson. And I’ll have to admit, it was the most relaxing holiday season we’ve ever had. Hmmmm…. very tempting. Leave a comment and let me know if you decorate in November.
Even if you decide not to decorate anything in November you can still pull out the decorations and make a list of what you need to buy for this year.
Other Things You Can Do for Christmas in November
- Buy leftover Halloween candy on November 1st. Use in stockings or for Christmas baking.
- Make, buy, and prepare for the Advent calendar.
- Purchase holiday outfits.
- Plan holiday meals.
- Make travel plans.
- Buy gifts.
If you missed my other monthly Christmas planning articles, check these out:
- 4 Things to do in January to Get Ready for Christmas
- 5 Things I do in July to Prepare for Christmas
- 5 Things to do to Prepare for Christmas in August
- 5 Things to do for Christmas in September
- 5 Things to do to Get Ready for Christmas in October
- Christmas Mantles You’ll Love
Thanks for reading what to do for Christmas in November! Don’t forget to let me know when you decorate… and sign up for my 12 Days of Christmas email series in the box below. Originally published Nov 16, 2016. Featured on: Favorite Fives
‘Til the next project,
Ann @ Duct Tape and Denim
Claire says
Great suggestions. I need to start my Christmas gift making, I always end up doing that at the last minute. I don’t put any decorations up until the 1st of December though.
Kim says
We decorate the day after Thanksgiving…turkey and stuffing leftovers for breakfast while we trim the tree!! I do love the Christmas craft in November, carols on and lots of red and green!!
Debrashoppeno5 says
Great suggestions. My biggest hurdle is getting all of the decorations from the attic. I should have started it in the beginning of the month.
ducttapeanddenim says
Me too! I’m actually climbing up in the attic today to pull out some more decorations!
Thomas says
It makes me think about decoration plans for Christmas. Thanks for your detailed recommendation.
Minnie Scott says
Niceee !!! Still don’t know what to prepare for Christmas until reading your post 😀
Thanks for sharing those helpful suggestions ! Gonna save them for doing soon !
Mary Smith@ PoolSwimming says
Thanks for your sharing. I always make some Christmas gifts for my family members and friends every year, but not any interesting ideas. You make me think of some plans for the Christmas coming. Thanks again,
Kim Clark says
I’m a strict person on decorating for Xmas too. Not gonna do it until after Thanksgiving. I wanna do it when the holiday atmosphere has come. But number 4 looks so handy! Thank you for the idea you’re sharing. It’s great! Gonna prepare it for the season now. Best wishes!
Emily says
I wish I read these tips earlier! Because til now, all thing for my Christmas is still chaotic. I would probably need to push my progress up! And fortunately, I can follow your logical guides to prepare for my Christmas as perfect as possible! Thank for sharing!
Kareen Walton says
Absolutely love this topic!! Love love love it! And I will rely on it to prepare for my Christmas too- I should have read these directions earlier. But regardless, it isn’t useless for anyone because it is so great. I look forward to seeing what you share next!
Kristy Mastrandonas says
Excellent ideas! I’ll have to put some of these to practice next year. Thanks for sharing!
Florence @ Vintage Southern Picks says
Great tips Ann. I’ve never thought of some of them. I usually start my decorating Thanksgiving weekend. We have a very small family so not many to buy for & nobody wants anything. I usually make sweet bread loaves for the widows in my husband’s care group at church, and a few extras for special people. In fact, we don’t even have a Christmas tree to decorate (gasp)
Fry Smith says
Very interesting, I wish to read it sooner. Anyway, it gives me lots of ideas for the upcoming Christmas season, sure to be great. Thank you for sharing
sharan says
I’m actually becoming more of a mimalmist each day. Christmas is December 25th, 26th in Canada with Boxing day. Don’t know how it has become a year round occasion. So we do ours a week before, everything super simple and enjoy. I may be the only one in the universe , but it works for us. Do enjoy your DIY projects.
Tina Peterson says
I almost always put up Decorations the day before thanksgiving – or if I take that day off from day-care kiddos (like this year) I do it 2 days before so they can participate in decorating. One of my families doesn’t seem to do much for decorating for holidays so I make sure to invite him especially.
eatfrysmith says
Every year I also celebrate Christmas with my family, also prepare a small party but I have never had any new ideas for the holidays, reading your blog has prompted me to add new ideas. Sincerely thank you!
ducttapeanddenim says
Thanks for letting me know!
Chandra says
I do everything except our main tree in early November, I put up three trees in my house and one table top one for gold star families.( military families whose loved one has died in military service) We are a retired army family. I decorate so much of my house I have to start early. I am tempted to start next week to be honest but I probably wont..lol
Peter Crouch says
This idea is amazing.
Thanks very much
Audrey says
We decorate a week or so after Memorial Day which is November 11th. Great suggestions! Thank you 😊
Susan says
I live in England UK . we didn’t put up Christmas decornations up before mums birthday
29 November or mine 9th December.
Nowadays I love alone and only put up Christmas cards.
I like to make all my Christmas cards and plan to get them started in September
This year I have made concrete golden crosses for gifts. And each year I choose someone to make a Christmas hamper for who is by themselves and don’t have much money.
I collect tinned food throughout the year and dried food I buy them a jumper and socks which they can’t buy for themselves.
Christmas lunch I invite someone for a meal maybe 3 this year.
I live alone and don’t cook very well but it seems to work for me.
For cleaning I have a cleaner in a couple of times a month. I am I not able to clean for myself.
I am disabled so this helps greatly.
I also keep an annual address label list which I only have to print off and stick into envelopes.
I update it as people move or pass away.
Thank you for sharing your tips.
Peace 2023 enjoy your Christmases
e a
ducttapeanddenim says
Thanks for sharing your schedule and have a great Christmas season!